Motivation and Restraint
John Grisham is one of my favorite writers. I only read his books on vacations because once started, I can’t stop. As a weekly sales and leadership writer I have to spend a lot of time on business podcasts, webinars, whitepapers, and associated books. If I get started on a good leisure time book, I don’t have the discipline to put it down. To remain motivated to meet my weekly goal of written projects, I have to exercise restraint with leisure reading.
Motivation and Success
Motivational stories inspire us. We admire J.K. Rowling (single mom struggling to make ends meet who wrote the Harry Potter books), Steven Spielberg (who snuck into a filming of a real movie at the age of 17 while on a tour at Universal Studios), and Dolly Parton (the fourth of twelve children in a one-room cabin in Tennessee).
Grisham’s fictional book, Sooley, concerns a 17-year-old war-torn South Sudanese boy who fights his way out of depravity with a basketball. Sooley’s goal of playing basketball in America pushes him to succeed. He exemplifies how motivation leads to success.
Key Motivators
The motivational stories above all have two important themes:
Goal achievement – Norman Vincent Peale said, “No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.” Numerous studies have shown only three percent of the population set goals and only about one percent write them down. To achieve your goals, it is important to identify them. I make a list of my dreams each year and this has led to many achievements. In my 40s, I became a Distinguished Speaker. My 50s were dedicated to becoming a published writer and I wrote 3 books. I went back to school in my 60s to earn a Master of Ministry degree. Now in my 70s, I write weekly, consult, and travel the country speaking.
High motivation – Success requires an enormous amount of motivation. To boost your level, surround yourself with motivated people. Their energy is contagious. If you are part of a motivated team, your achievement level escalates. You can do anything if you set goals. As Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Move Toward the Prize
Don’t wake up tomorrow realizing you are in the same place as you were yesterday. Motivate yourself. Clearly identify your goals and then focus your time and energy on moving in the direction of the prize – your success.
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